Mother and daughter working on the frontlines recover from COVID-19

KeAnna Parker and her mother Leslie Parker both work at South Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Both contracted COVID-19 in April and have since recovered. KeAnna is back at work and Leslie is at home. They have a Go Fund Me set up for Leslie Parker for her lost wages. Photo courtesy of KeAnna Parker
KeAnna Parker and her mother Leslie Parker both work at South Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Both contracted COVID-19 in April and have since recovered. KeAnna is back at work and Leslie is at home. They have a Go Fund Me set up for Leslie Parker for her lost wages. Photo courtesy of KeAnna Parker

Mother and daughter working on the frontlines recover from COVID-19

BY TIA CAROL JONES

KeAnna Parker is celebrating her first year as a registered nurse. She works as the restorative director at South Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Her mother, Leslie Parker, who has been working there for seven years, is the nursing supervisor.

In April, both women, who have been working on the frontlines caring for patients, tested positive for COVID-19.

Leslie spent 17 days in the hospital, with seven days of that in the intensive care unit. Now recuperating at home, she is using supplemental oxygen. KeAnna, who had mild symptoms, was quarantined at home for 14 days.

KeAnna said she is not sure how she contracted the virus. But she does know that it was difficult to purchase personal protective equipment in the first couple of months of the pandemic. Once KeAnna found it, she was able to purchase it for herself and for the rest of her staff. She said while she was only doing rehabilitative work with patients, her mom was working directly with the patients as a floor nurse.

KeAnna said what scared her was hearing that her mother needed to be intubated and placed on a ventilator. “Luckily, the hospital knew she was a nurse. Just like the police, we take care of our own. So, they were doing evidence-based practice on her instead of just doing what everyone else was doing. The evidence-based practice was showing the intubation does not necessarily work the best. So, they did BiPAPs and CPAPs instead,” she said.

KeAnna said she was grateful for the hospital staff that helped her mother. She said she wasn’t sure she would get another Mother’s Day with her mother.

KeAnna and Leslie Parker were honored in recognition of Mother’s Day and National Nurses Week in early May by Early Walker, owner of W & W Towing Company. Walker presented them with $200 in grocery store gift certificates.

Walker has been honoring those on the frontlines of COVID-19 in the last couple of months. He has provided meals for the National Guard that work at the Markham COVID-19 Testing Facility, as well as meals for Chicago police officers who attended the funeral of an officer who died of the virus.

Walker said it was a proud moment for him and his company to be able to honor the Parkers and present them with checks and gift certificates. He described them as extraordinary and brave and said he was grateful for their sacrifice.

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